Chapter 9 ATHENA #2
His threat was a promise darker than any nightmare. Tears burned my eyes as I imagined my father’s face. I turned my head, desperate to put as much distance between us as possible, but he was still too close.
“You’ll never touch me again,” I hissed, venom lacing my words.
His grin ghosted across my skin, followed by a low, lecherous laugh.
“Is that a promise, Athena?” His hand deliberately brushed mine. “Because I hate liars. Do I have to remind you that you willingly fucked my lap like the little needy brat you are?”
Heat rose to my cheeks, not from desire, but humiliation and fury. Alec choked on his wine, spitting it onto the table in shock. His eyes darted between us, disbelief clear. Nic had no filter or shame. Nic waved to Alec.
“Escort her back to her room. If she starves, so be it.”
My stomach growled, but I stayed silent.
“Nic—”
“Do as I say, Alec.”
Alec sighed, defeated, rising from his chair. His eyes begged me to obey for my own good. I stood slowly, with what grace I could muster, swallowing the ache of humiliation. Nic took a deliberate bite of his steak, savoring the moment.
“Go to hell,” I spat.
“I will,” Nic said darkly. “But I’ll take you with me.”
Alec escorted me out. Once we were alone, he muttered an apology for his boss’s cruelty. I silenced him with a look. When we reached ‘‘my room’’, I slammed the door, hearing the lock click behind me. Alone, the weight of it all crashed down. I collapsed against the door, body trembling.
Even my father might not be able to save me now.
Time in this small, nearly empty room stretched out like an endless shadow, suffocating and slow. I had no idea what day it was, or even the hour, nothing but that tiny window in the upper corner letting in just enough light to mark the passing of day and night.
I’d long forgotten the last time I ate. My stomach twisted into a tight, painful knot, and every night the growling noise it made kept sleep just out of reach.
Alec had come several times over the past few days, offering me bread.
Each time, I refused. Eventually, he stopped trying.
Nic never once showed up in my room to check if I was still alive, but from everything I’d learned, I wasn’t surprised.
Locked away in this cell, I had nothing but time to think.
How could I have been so stupid, so blind?
All the warning signs had been there. Every red flag was waving in my face, and I’d ignored them.
I walked straight into his trap. He had planned it all, and I had handed him the key to me on a silver platter.
Maybe he thinks I’m a fool, and maybe he’s right.
I don’t know why I didn’t shut him out when I had the chance. Why, Athena? Why?
Nic “accidentally” showing up at that party the first night I saw him. Then again on my trip, breaking into my villa. Every time I felt eyes on me, my instincts were screaming, but I was too blinded to listen.
Being locked away gave me time to think about my family.
Each thought shrank my heart further. I could only imagine the chaos back home.
Ace probably getting blamed for my disappearance.
My parents… God, they must be losing their minds.
And I didn’t want to think about my father in his dark, violent state.
I’d only heard the stories—none of them ended well.
The hunger, the crushing loneliness, the emptiness draining my strength—bit by bit, they were killing me.
I barely had the energy to get out of bed anymore.
My hair was a tangled mess, and my clothes were the same ones Alec had brought me days ago.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d showered. I was so damn tired.
Then one night, he came.
I lay on the bed, and let myself really look at him.
His suit was still immaculate, his shoes were polished and gleaming, his black hair perfectly cut, falling into his face like a curtain.
His green eyes swept across the room, finally settling on me.
The scar on his face made him look even more terrifying now that I knew the truth.
Nic shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned against the door frame. His eyes never left me. His face was carved from stone, jaw clenched tight. It wasn’t fair—God had been cruel to give this man such a handsome face.
“Hello, Athena,” he said, voice smooth, professional, with just the right amount of mockery, as if reminding me he was the one in control. “How are you feeling tonight?”
“Go fuck yourself, asshole.”
It was all I could manage to say. I was weak, drained, but I still found strength to curse him. He laughed, slow and amused, licking his bottom lip. The memory of those lips close to mine stabbed me like a knife.
“Still some fight left in you,I see. I’d like you better without that attitude.”
“And I’d like you better dead,” I spat back.
He threw his head against the wall, laughing fully now. The dimples on his cheeks appeared for the first time tonight. Even seeing me weak, pale, wasting away, he laughed.
No hint of remorse, or trace of sympathy. Most people would look away, feel guilty seeing someone like that, but not him. His gaze was cold, heartless. What the hell was I thinking, being drawn to him?
“Watch your mouth, Athena,” he warned.
“I wouldn’t give you the pleasure,” I replied with a weak, smug smile, pushing myself up slowly on the bed. Dizziness hit immediately, so I rested my head back on the frame.
“You’re annoying like every King.”
“Oh, obsessed with my family? Want an autograph?” I raised my eyebrows, enjoying poking the beast. He expected me broken, begging for mercy.
He was wrong. I’d rather bleed out than beg.
He pushed off the wall and moved closer, kneeling so he was eye-level with me.
The smile vanished, replaced by rage. Mine matched his.
“I’ll take my time killing every member of your pathetic family,” he said, tilting his head with a psychotic grin. “And you’ll watch the blood drain from their bodies. Maybe then you’ll learn to shut that pretty mouth.”
“Sounds like empty promises,” I whispered, but the words stung. He was pure evil, but could he be worse than my father? “If it feeds your ego, talk all you want.”
Suddenly, his hand wrapped around my throat, squeezing hard, cutting off my air as he pulled me closer.
His minty breath grazed my lips. We stayed like that—me frozen, him drilling into my soul with those dark green eyes.
For a split second, I thought I saw something—something flicker beneath that rage.
A hesitation, almost… as if he considered kissing me.
I don’t know where I found the strength, but I pushed him away.
His grip loosened, weaker than I expected, or maybe he never expected me to fight.
Before I knew it, my hand flew up, slapping his cheek—hard.
The sound echoed in the silent room. My palm burned from the impact, leaving a red mark across his skin. His head snapped sideways.
“Don’t ever touch me again.” My voice was shaking—whether from fear, regret, or something worse… —I didn’t know.
He just stood there, breathing hard, jaw clenched so tightly I thought it might shatter. His entire body trembled with the fury he couldn’t let out. His eyes burned with it, but he held back, and then, without a word he stood up., backed away, turned, and left the room.
The slam of the door shook the walls. The sound of the lock clicking back into place left an echo in my chest that hurt more than it should have.
I collapsed onto the bed, my limbs heavy and shaking, my pulse wild beneath my skin.
If he thought he could break me that easily, then he had clearly never dealt with a real King before.